"69 tends to be repetitive, yet features some of the most ferocious jamming of any year."

i'd say i only agree with the last half of that statement. though much of the jamming/setlists are in similar context, the more i have listened to this period (i.e. 67-70 primal dead era) the more the jams tend to differentiate themselves. garica does tend to dominate many of the jams, but i feel his creatvity in them is just endless...here's a great example of some gorgeous playing in 'He Was A Friend Of Mine', a song i've really been enjoying recently:

I would trade all my shows ( '87 - '95 ) for some of this repetition of '69 . All day , and nighttime long .Each era has it's own magic , and I tend to let folks like what they like . I mean , a lot of this attraction has an emotional component , and who am I ?However there are some things we can quantify .'69 blows '77 , '81 , '82 and most all other years away . By a wide margin . It's up there w/ '68 for example .Now each year has its epic(s) . Lots of '77 fans , cool . '81 , best NYE show ? A good one anyways . '82 , F-R-O-S-T .

When I think of "best years" or "best shows" I tend to favor '68, '69' '70 and '72-'74; particularly the "Pigpen Years" from day one through Europe '72. Bound to start a disagreement I know, and I don't mean to. It's only my opinion. Others mileage may vary..

Well, to me you are almost talking about 2 different bands : The band that evolved into the psychedelic beast of 68-69, then the more song oriented band that came after , and went to the end . Most interviews I have seen/heard with Garcia, he wasn't too happy with the writing of the pre-Workingman's period, it was like a "prelude" . Now, like most of us , I love that stuff, but I think something past 69, more honestly represents the band .Another case could be made for dividing it roughly 66-80, where every year the band sounds quite different ( new material all the time, changing of band members equipment helped ), and post 80 , where the change is slower . I like the whole history, but that 66 >early Brent period I prefer .

I agree with you, which is partly why, though I love the early 80s, I'd pick 69 over 81. It's not just the energy, drive and intensity; it's also that there are lots more years that are roughly "like 81" than "like 69." It's almost two different bands; the later is present in the earlier, but we can only hear it after the fact.

those are definitly some great pics, the 4/5 show is one of my favorites of '69 (or any year for that matter), and i have just recently discovered the 4/23 show...what a gem. where else are you gonna find a St. Steve>It's A sin>St. Steve for goodness sake!?

and i would personally trade my 2 dead shows (sans Jerry) for anything from 87-95, but it's all relative i guess ;)

Not even two shows? Oh, well, he's making a deal with me, anyway. You may beat me out on the 60s-early 70s, though, cuz you're offering ALL your shows. Neither of us have had takers, though. Dang. Someone's hoarding some early era shows, I think, like sugar or nylons in WWII ... stashing them in coffee cans, waiting for the prices to go up ...

The lack of takers may inadvertently answer the question of 81 vs 69, though :-)

Well, I'll up the ante. I'll trade a Raven Space for an acid test, if anyone's got a spare one lying around. You won't lose the memories, cuz what would you remember anyway, right? I promise I'll go well-prepared, with a tape deck, so everyone can share. Isn't that appealing now?

OK, it's a deal. You can have two of mine from the 87-95 era for the Dead sans Jerry, since I didn't get to see those. I get to keep my 78-85, though. Got some good ones, but I'm saving up to trade for some 60s and early 70s :-)

Both are special in their own ways. 69 tends to be repetitive, yet features some of the most ferocious jamming of any year. If I had to nix one, I would probably keep 69 over 81, because I would still have 82 - one of my personal favorite years!

I can only be as specific as to pick a "few" years: 1967, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1990, 1993.

I mean with the amount they changed as time went on there is sometimes very little that is similar among these years. I mean how can you really compare a '69 Dark Star -> St. Stephen -> Eleven -> Lovelight jam with a 1990 Playin' -> Uncle John's -> Terrapin -> MLB Jam?

AW , I was at that show in Albany . It was magic . One of the best shows that I had the privilege to see . Set two many have heard , and the MLBJ can bring a tear of joy to your eye . Don't forget set one . The first 7 songs are gold , even WB . I do not think that is written often .

As a said above , every year has it's gems . Be it a set or 50 shows . And there is a high degree of emotional context which informs our opinion . '90 is prob. my 3rd fav. year . Why ? For me , it capped the promise of post coma JG . That GD wasn't just spinning in a rut , but some new gems were added to the canon ( my '90 is really from Sept. of '89 to Sept. of '90 ). When I look at it with a cold eye , '69 or '90 , it is not even close , for me , which I would choose .Like what you like , love what you love , who am I to say for you ? AW , '93 is not a fav. of mine . Link a few shows up . I can not listen to the whole deal ( time ) , but give me a few prime cuts . Thanks .

Science fiction movie plot: Time machine is invented, but greedy corporations grab the patents on various years, the way they're trying to do now with medicinal plants from indigenous cultures.

Intrepid Deadheads desperate for a trip to the 60s and early 70s get around the corporations by trading years. Drama ensues ... tie-dye colored laser fights, Deadheads leaping buildings, a revitalized Jerry breaks into corporate HQ with his guitar on full blast, a la Back to the Future, and melts a few corporate minds ...

If any sci-fi writers are on board here, I want full credit for this when it comes out :-)

It is a great song, unfortunately it can't compare to the original by Robert Johnson which ruins it for me. There is some Robert Johnson here at the archive although not Walkin' Blues. But if you give this a listen you may see why Bob's version can't stand up.

I really enjoyed the handful of shows I saw in the post-Brent 90s. I was so anxious beforehand about whether they'd just be awful, but was pleasantly surprised each time. I don't know how the shows would hold up to listening now; I haven't listened to them on the archive. Maybe it was just that I was so happy to see the boys again, or maybe my trepidation made so-so shows seem good. But I'd like to think that the 90s have wonderful moments that may pale in comparison to other years, but are still pretty darned hot. I hope that's true, anyway ...

I must chime into to say that this is far too many posts on 90s era material...if I were running things around here, I would require that a nonDEAD, possibly CREAM related post be inserted after every five of this sort. I am shocked to find elb going to such lengths on the topic (since you admitted you liked it--right thing to do, as elb noted--and are a relative newbie, you get a pass).

See? I can still be a judgmental old bastard. I may have to rethink my take on this micah kid as well; "shows we attended" are always problematic...just ask the "critics of the reviewers" subcommittee.

I believe I mentioned Cream in this thread!! Although I did not babble on and on about Jack so maybe that doesn't count in the former PM's book.

I will admit that Without a Net has a soft spot with me. From 1995-2005 when i didn't listen to very much GD, Without a Net was the CD that I would play. I had just started spinning American Beauty right before i discovered this place.

el , I had a similar self exile period , congruent with your time . It was all too much . The Eyes from WAN is a classic . One of the most requested by my youngest ( 9 ) , and bonus , he sings along too . I secretly watch him sometimes . ( God forbid if I was to openly watch him sing . )

I am not sure why i left it behind. I think part of it was my life was changing a lot starting in '95 with kids and then moving to a new town in '96.

As for Net, I remember in '91 while in grad school i was staying with some friends in a cabin and i put it on. They all were familiar with the Dead but it was in their past. When Eyes came on one of them said, "wow this is like grateful dead for grown ups."

Don't you always want to be one? I think of the term with affection (ahem...hold the comments, eh Dan?) as it means you've graduated from "unknown" to regular, JG or some such rank. Better than "sweetums", right? I got in big trouble for that one...

If you want me to call you a "grey haired (har) old regular", with a variety of age related ailments, like Dire and elb, not to mention, old man Rob, I'll try to change over...your call.